Saturday, December 20, 2025

Birdwatching during the third week of November.

Winter Arrives Early—and Fierce—in the Abode of the Gods

Abuites will remember November 2025 as a month that rewrote Mount Abu’s weather script. For the first time in over a decade, temperatures plunged well below freezing. On November 18, the mercury dipped to –2°C, only to fall further to a biting –6°C the very next day. After a harrowing and erratic monsoon season, this sudden, severe winter felt almost surreal—yet refreshing. The forests seemed to exhale, relieved by the cold’s crisp certainty.

As always, the weather sets the stage for what draws me outdoors: the birds.

With winter tightening its grip, Mount Abu’s avian world came alive. Raptors ruled the skies, warblers whispered from the undergrowth, and the hills echoed with the quiet promise of a season in full swing. While I didn’t photograph as many individuals as I’d hoped—frozen fingers and fleeting light had their say—the sightings themselves were rewarding.

Highlights of the Week

Peregrine Falcon (Shaheen) Falco peregrinus

Common Buzzard - Buteo buteo

Long-legged Buzzard - Buteo rufinus

Common Buzzard — a reassuring winter presence, soaring above the ridgelines.

Long-legged Buzzard — elegant and imposing, a true monarch of open skies.

Peregrine Falcon (Shaheen) — a thrilling encounter with speed and precision incarnate.

Hume’s Warbler — subtle, secretive, and always a delight to pick out.

Sulphur-bellied Warbler — a lively splash of colour amid the winter browns.

These few captures may not reflect the full scale of what the week offered, but they represent the essence of November birding in Mount Abu: raw cold, clear light, and birds at home in it. Winter has announced itself early this year—and for birders, it has done so with unforgettable flair.

Bird of the Week.

Sulphur-bellied Warbler - Phylloscopus griseolus winter visitor.

Sulphur-bellied Warbler - Phylloscopus griseolus winter visitor. .mp4

Ashy Prinia - Prinia socialis

Common Buzzard - Buteo buteo winter visitor

Gray Wagtail - Motacilla cinerea winter visitor

Hume's Warbler - Phylloscopus humei Winter visitor

Jungle Babbler - Turdoides striata

Long-legged Buzzard - Buteo rufinus winter visitor

Long-tailed Shrike - Lanius schach

Peregrine Falcon (Shaheen) Falco peregrinus

Rose-ringed Parakeet - Psittacula krameri

Shikra - Accipiter badius

Spotted Dove - Streptopelia chinensis

Swallows sp mixed bag

Friday, November 21, 2025

Birding in the Last Week of October 2025.

Perfect birding weather… until Mount Abu decided to turn October into a monsoon encore!

The last week of October brought yet another spell of unseasonal rainfall to Mount Abu, spilling over into the first days of November. A Western Disturbance and Cyclone Montha caused this unexpected weather, frustrating many Abuites as it once again disrupted the familiar rhythm of the hill station’s seasonal cycle.

But while the townsfolk grumbled, the forest and its intricate ecosystem thrived in the sudden bounty. The hills remained cloaked in lush green, and the streams flowed with renewed vigour—rare sights for this time of year.

Despite the erratic showers, winter migrants have arrived, signalling the approach of a colder season. A few water migrants have also touched down, though their numbers remain modest. Suitable habitat might temporarily limit the water migrants, perhaps explaining their quieter arrival, as most of Mount Abu’s water bodies are full.

Whenever the rain paused and the skies offered a brief window of clarity, I ventured out for my birding. In those fleeting moments, Abu revealed its magic. I have curated a small collection of the birds I photographed during this period—each image a tiny piece of our sanctuary’s living record.

As always, my efforts remain committed to documenting and celebrating our avian visitors, ensuring their stories continue to be told. I'll be back soon with my observations from November. Until then, may the forests remain green and the birds continue to call.

Bird of the week